Zinc-aluminium alloys and the method for producing same



United Statesv ice.

. I 2,870,008 7 ZINC-ALUMINIUM'ALLOYS AND THE METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAMEI l .1

Willi Neu, S aarbrucken, Saarlaud, "assignor to Main Alloy CompanyEstablishment (Mace), Vaduz, Liechteustein I 4 No Drawing. ApplicationNovember 15, 1955 p s n n 547,045

(Ilaims priority, application Great asis -November 18, 1954: s l

The present invention relates to zinc-aluminium alloys and theproduction thereof.

relatively high, viz'."from"2.20%' to 8%, but the zinc conasiaoos I:neither iron nor lead'is present except as an impurity. The silicon maybe'chosen from the ranges 0.15 to 1.5

from more than 1.5% to 2.3% or from more than 2.3% to 16% and theberyllium from traccs up to 0.45 from more than 0.45% to 3.0% and frommore than 3.0% to 10%. Copper is advantageously also present in anamount from 0.05 to 6%. i v I Preferably the zinc content is from 38 to60% and the aluminium content from 60% to 38%. The zinc content isalways'above"- 28% save where the copper content is tent iseve'n-then atleast The alloy may include nickel, chromium, magnesium, boron, tungstenor titanium up to 6%.. v p 1 1 I l The following able lists a number'o'falloys according to the invention and theirus I Be- -A1 zn 'ou s1" NlOther ses metals Remainden- CA9 sacs Alloys according to the presentinvention consist essentially of from 20% to 75% of aluminium, from0.15% to 16% ofsilicon, from traces up to 10% of beryllium and zinc, thecontent of zinc being at least 20%. The term consisting essentially ofused herein and in the claims .Remainder..

can

Mg 0.01--. Casting and malleable alloys;

, corrosion-resistant bearings,

' cocks, possibly wires with subsequent treatment, good surfaceformation.

} Casting and malleable alloys,

corrosion-resistant bearings resistant to sea water, plates,

rapidly moving machine parts. Corrosion-resistant bearings, injectionmoulding, chill casting, cages for ball tearmgs.

Fine-grained, ductile, hard,

pressable, bars, plates, bearings, wire, corrosion-resistant 0 03machine parts.

Castmgand malleable alloys, corrosion-resistant hearing and machineparts resistant to sea water.

Bearings, corrosion-resistant pump parts, parts resistant to weakorganic and weak inorganic acids and bases.

}.....' 0.12 B0.15. Pressure-cast bearings, ('orroslon-resistant plates,electrical parts, wires.

} MG Concentrated a1l0ys,'bearings,

traces. key alloys for corrosionresistant machine and pump parts. 6.50.12 GB 0.6 Concentrated alloys for bear ings, key alloys for machineand pump parts, corrosionresistant and sea water resistant material.0.33 Bars, sleeves, wires, rollers sheets. 0.65 0.06 Bars, sleeves,wire, bearings,

pump parts.

The zinc and aluminium may form the initial melt and the other elementsbe added thereto, either as free elements or as key alloys or chemicalcompounds. Certain of the elements and particularly the optionalelements, notable calcium, sodium or strontium, may be added in hereofis intended to mean that the alloy may include one the form of hydridesof the metals.

or more of the following optional elements, viz., calcium, sodium,strontium, barium, cadmium, tin, vanadium, molybdenum, manganese,cerium, potassium and/ or incidental ingredients such as iron up to 3%which are used In preparing the melt, the silicon may be wholly or inpart replaced by phosphorus or one or more other nonmetals, e. g.,carbon (preferably in the form of graphite).

The improved alloy has good acid-resisting and alkali in known smallquantities in connection with zincresisting properties and isparticularly suitable when a aluminium alloys, save that the sum of thesaid optional elements does not exceed 6%, and save that preferablylight-weight alloy is required which shall have these properties.

Patented Jan. 20, 1959 pump parts, rapidly moving The alloy may beemployed in the construction of pumps .or .partsof pumps, especially.for pumping acids or alkalis, and for such and other purposes mayreplace steel, cast iron and bronzeswith advantage. The alloy may beemployed advantageously for bearings, bearing linings, and sliding, e.g., reciprocating, parts. It can be used as a key alloy or forworkpieces, of various kinds and can be produced in sheetor wire form.

The melt may be cast by conventional methods in sand or chill moulds, or;a :bar-or ingot may. bepartiallylchillcast .or semi-chill-cast, ve. g.,the molten alloy material maybe caused to run down :directly from .asand mould into a metal mould which is chilled sothat a baror ingot isformed which is contained partly .in the .metalmould and partlyin thesand mould soaszto cause a progres sive chilling from the bottom ofthebar ,orjngot to the top, orin other'words, ,a-quickisolidificationrealised over the IOWCI'IBglOIISliH particularofthebaroringot. T I

Alloys according to the invention are amenable .topressure casting,centrifugal casting rorvibration castirrg, v e. ,g,, 20

the mould may be subjected to ultra-sonic .osc'illation. Highcompression characteristics can thereby :be produced in the castingprocess.

The alloy may w ith advantage be used toreplace screwthreaded parts ofsteel, cast iron or=b r onze. l

The alloy may be made as a concentrate, e. g., with a high beryllium andsilicon content, or beryllium-siliconcopper content, and diluted withaluminium a'n'dyzinc to form the required alloy. The'alloy No. 14 of theforeging table is one suitable .example.

melt, to promote the sliding propertiesofihealloy;

The percentages ,given herein and in the claims hereof are by-weight.

I Graphite may be added, e. g., to the zinc-aluminiumi H 4 What Iclaimis: 1.;An .alloy consisting essentially of from 20% to aluminium,from 0.15 to 16% silicon, from 0.005% up to 10% of beryllium, and zincat least 38% 2. An alloy consisting essentially of aluminium at least20%; silicon from 0.15% to 16%; beryllium from 0.005

to 10%; zinc at least 28%; copper from 0.05% to 6%,

iron 0% to 3.5% and not including lead save as an impurity.

3. An alloy consisting essentially of from 20% to aluminium, from 0.15%to 16% silicon, from 0.005% up to 10% beryllium, copper from 2.20 :to 8%.and zinc at least 20%.

4. .A composition according to claim 1, containing copperinthe range of;05% 106%,.

' 5. An alloy consisting essentially 'of 0.50% berylluim, 26.5%aluminium, 0.55% copper, 0.45% silicon, traces of magnesiumandthe'remaindenzinc.

References Cited in the file of this patent 'UNITElB STATES .PATENTS1,879,748 Horsfield. Sept. 27, 1932 .EOREIGN PATIENTS 448,929 GreatBritain June 17,, 1936 537,312 Great Britain June 17, 1941 638,733 GreatBritain June 14, 1950 0,001,105 France Feb. 20, 1952 408,097 Italy Dec.19, 1944 OTHER REFERENCES Ie'tferies: Aluminum Industry, pages 307-308,vol, II, McGraw-Hill, New York, N. Y., 31930,

2. AN ALLOY CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF ALUMINIUM AT LEAST 20%; SILICONFROM 0.15% TO 16%; BERYLLIUM FROM 0.005% TO 10%; ZINC AT LEAST 28%;COPPER FROM 0.05% TO 6%, IRON 0% TO 3.5% AND NOT INCLUDING LEAD SAVE ASAN IMPURITY.